Pad filling apparatus



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.'r. L. MCJOYNT PAD FILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 www @Www/5X5 y mv Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE Application February 5, 1934, Serial No. 709,685 Renewed April 11, 1936 11 Claims.

My invention relates generally to improved means for nlling upholstery pads or the like, the principle of which is similar to that employed in the device for filling pads described in my Patent Number ,328,673 of October 20, i931.

The above named patent shows and describes a machine for blowing filling material into a pad. It discloses mechanism for alternately filling indi- Vidual sections of pads located adjacent each other. The filling material is blasted through diverging nozzles and is alternately diverted from one nozzle to the other through the medium of a deflector so that only one nozzle is in operation at a time.

My improved device so constructed and arranged as to permit all ci the sections in a single pad to be filled simuitaneously. However, in the improved machine I have retained the diverging nozzle structure common in my original device which permits o continuous lling of pads by diverting the new ci material from one set of nozzles tc the other.

On first thought, the problem of simultaneousiy filling the separated sections of a pad seems to be a simple one. However, the fact that cotton ber forms the basis ci the lllng material used makes it an involved one. As is explained in patent heretofore nam-ed, the lling material is blasted into a section ci a pad through a nozzle sleeve, the nozzle and pad being relatively withdrawn one from the other as the filling proceeds, by the force of air pressure from the nozzle. The speed ci the withdrawal of the nozzle or the withdrawal of the pad away from nozzle is therefore determined by the speed with which the filling material builds up within the pad section ahead of the said nozzle.

Due to the consistency of the filling material and the method ci breaking it up, it does not flow from the nozzle a continuous stream. For that reason there is no determined speed with which the nozzle is withdrawn from the sections of a pad. it may be necessary to slow down the withdrawal ci the nozzle at one point and speed it up at another in order that the connected pad section may be uniformly lled.

To apply this principle and utilize the same mechanism that I use in the device shown in my patent to a number of nozzles all being withdrawn from the niultipie sections in a single pad at the same time would be fatal to the eiective operation of the device for the reason that one nozzle might deliver more or less filling material than another and, therefore, one or more sections of the pad would ll up 'faster than another,

in which event the section that did not receive as much lling material as the other would appear flabby and soft as compared to those that had the proper amount of lling material.

If the rearward movement of the nozzle sleeve 5 were slowed up as to permit the section getting the lesser amount of lling material to pack properly, the stream of cotton from the other nozzles would pack against the exhaust ends of the telescoped nozzles, which action would prevent air from escaping through the fabric of the pad, the said nozzle would clog and it would be necessary to pull it clear of thepad and blow it free before the filling operation could be resumed.

My contribution to the art involves the simultaneous lling of all the sections of a single pad through the medium of multiple nozzles and cooperating telescoping sleeves, and includes mechanism for apportioning and distributing the lling material to the nozzles uniformly so that filling material of given density and volume under equal pressure will be delivered to each nozzle simultaneously.

My invention also includes mechanism whereby pads, the sections of which vary in width and thickness, may be lled in one operation.

To better understand the workings of my machine, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the assembled mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side plan View of the assembly shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the nozzle and ian assembly showing a multiple nozzle assembly introduced into a pad;

Fig. 4 is a side plan View of the assembly disclosed in Fig. 3 and illustrates the manner in which the nozzle sleeves are withdrawn from the pad and transferred to the top oi the pad mold;

Fig. 5 is a front plan view of the mold track;

Fig. 6 is a front plan View of an assembled set of nozzle sleeves;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a mold with a set of nozzle sleeves partially withdrawn therefrom;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section view on the line 8 8 of the set of sleeves disclosed in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective of a modified nozzle unit associated with a mold.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. l and 2, the numeral IFJ is generally used to indicate a lling material feeder of the usual type and construction which is used for primary break-down of the baled filling material. 'I'hat is to say, the member I0 is in the nature of a primary disintegrator to break down l the formerly baled filling material.

acts on the filling material to break itfinto stillV Vto the associated blower `38 thereof.

The feeder or disintegrator ID has a hopper I I into which the filling material is deposited and upon actuation of the feeder mechanism, through the medium of a drive I2, the filler material is initially broken up and cleansed, the cieansing operation being performed by a vacuum, fan I3 which draws dust and other foreign.l substances from the cotton in the breaking-up process out of the feeder to a dump.

The partially broken up filling material is then automatically deposited onto a travelling apron I4 which carries it into the hopper I5 of a standard willow I I5.Y I'he 'willow I 6, actuated by a drive pulley Il, further agitates and breaks up the lling material and from thence it isV drawn into a standard cotton condenser'IB whichfwhen actuated through the medium of drive I9,'aga'in` Proctor'and Schwartz of Philadelphiafor theY cotton industry. This device, when actuated by the drive 24, further breaks up thefilling material and delivers it to a travelling apron 25 in a sheet of thoroughly broken' up and cleansed filling material, theV density, thickness and width of which" isi uniform throughout. The uniform mass of fillingrmaterialis conveyed .to rotating cutters 26 mounted on a shaft 2'I which, in the instance ofthe structureshowniny the drawings,

divide the material into three portions of uniform width, thickness and density. The cutters mounted on the shaft 21 contact a slowly rotating roller or shaft Vmember 28 which assists in conveyingrthe Vfilling material through the cutting operation to aprons 29 of standard cotton picking machines 30.

As illustrated in Figure 1, each picker 30 is provided with a separate outlet 330 which leads That is to Y say, each picker 30 is in feeding relation to the related blower thereof and has no communication with the other blowers so that the separate .7 masses of material being separately handled by the several pickers are separately fed to the sep-k,

arate blowers 38 and are conveyed while thus separated through the members 40 to the sections Y of the pad being filled. Y

The cutters 26 are adjustable on the shaft 2I f so that the mass of filling material conveyed thereto may be separated in variable widths and thus variablevquantities. This isimportant as in the instance of pads having alternate wide and narrow sections sewn therein', itis necessary that more or'less filling material'be supplied to theV Yquickly in the small sleeve than in the large sleeve and eventually clog the nozzle. Therefore, Aby mountingV thecutters in a manner as to permit'relative adjustment of them, 'a proper `3I 'and 32 and the connected fan.

Waste outlets terial cut by theI outside knives may be Vcarried off and returned to the feeder hopper to be used again. Y Y

VAs the three uniform masses of filling material pass through the cutting knives they are deposited on travelling aprons 29 of the pickers which convey them through rollers 35 to the picking mechanism. At this point it is well to note that the speed of the apron 25 of the volumetric control Inachine, the speed of the rotation of the cutting knives and that of the aprons 29 is such that the preparedand divided material is conveyed to the pickers at a uniform rate of speed. The picker mechanisms are actuated by'.

a single shaft 3'I driven by a pulley 36 and inas,

much as the mechanism of the variousY pickers is' ofY uniform size and travel at uniform speed, the same quantity of filling material will be,V eX- hausted from each. V

. Connected to the exhaust orifices of the pickers are fans of the same size Vand capacity. Therefore, the intake and output of filling material into and from the saidA fans is uniform.

The pressure outlet of each ofthe fans connect tubular nozzles 40, such as areV disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 669,112

-filedfMay 3, 1933.` Each of the said nozzles 40 are formed at the free ends of divergent conduits orrnozzles 4I discharging at differentlevels and leading from Va commonrsupply conduit or pipe section 42 whichQin turn, connects with the'fans 38 which, as stated above, draws the decimated 1 cotton from the various pickers and'forces Vit through one or -the other of the'oppositely disthe jointure of the two nozzles which, when actuated by thev filling operator, will close off one or the other of the opposed nozzles as to permit flow of the material through one only.

An Yemergency valve 44 is positioned in the main supply conduit 42 so that inthe event of f;

trouble at the nozzles, the flow of material can be diverged from the nozzles to an emergency exhaust 45 which'connects into the general exhaust return system indicated in Fig. l by pipes Therefore, should for any reason it be desirable to defiect the'fiow of material from the nozzles, it is only necessary for the operator to close the valve 44, which operation opens'the emergency exhaust port as to permit the material coming from'the blower to be carried back to the feeder hopper.

The valves'of the three multiple nozzles shown are interconnected so that operation of them is simultaneous. For examplefwhen it is rnecessary to divert the flow of filling material from the upper to the lower nozzles, operation of the valve control means 43will operate the deflector valves of the saidrnozzles simultaneously. Also if it is necessary to shutV off the iiow of the material to all of the nozzles, operation of the valve control mechanism 44 will close all the shut-off valves and open the emergency exhaust ports simultaneously.

The mold carriage and molds which support the pads to be filled are similar to those described in my cfu-pending application, Serial Number 659,112 filed May 3, 1933, except that the sleeves positioned in the pad to be filled are so fixed together as to form a unit. This Will be best understcod by referring to Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. Fig. 7 discloses a mold 45 in which a pad has been positioned and a sleeve unit 41 inserted in three orifices of the pad. The sleeves are beveled outwardly at one end and are fixed together by a clamp member i9 which facilitates the withdrawing of the sleeves from the pad during the filling process.

As in the instance of the structure shown in my above mentioned co-pending application, the molds are adapted to travel on parallel-spaced tracks d and 5i which are positioned adjacent the orifices of the diverging supply nozzles, The said tracks are so spaced as to permit alignment of pad molds with the exhaust orifices of the staggered parallel supply nozzles, one of the said nozzles being positioned to fill pads in molds riding on the lower track and the other to fill pads in molds riding on the adjacent track.

In order to facilitate the travelling of the molds along the track, Wheels 52 are provided, the said Wheels being fixed to the bottom of the molds. The mold per se has a solid bottom 53 and a perforated top 54 as to permit exodus of air within the pad when the pad is being filled.

Means are provided to lock the mold in closed position when the pad is placed therein.

Referring again to the drawings, attention is called to Fig.. 9 which discloses a unit of three sleeves, the two outer ones being of small diameter and the middle one of large diameter. The sleeves are shown inserted in a pad, here shownl having a plurality of sections or constituent pads the two outer sewn sections of which are of small diameter and the middle one of large diameter. In order to fill such a pad, the nozzles are unjointed at the hinges and ones of proper size are attached. By proper size I refer to the dimensions of the reduced portion of the nozzle, over which the sleeve units are adapted to telescope. For instance, to be used in conjunction with the pad disclosed in Fig. 3, the middle nozzie would be taken oiT and the one substituted would have its reduced end of a diameter and contour slightly smaller than the diameter and f contour of the sleeve in the smaller pad section,

which sleeve will be telescoped over it.

Inasmuch as the adjustable cutters 26 so function as to provide a given quantity of cotton to each picker, and thus to each nozzle, and the air pressure from the fans 3E is uniform, each section will receive a proper amount of filling material the filling operation will be exactly the same as in the instance of pads having the same size sleeves.

At this point it should be noted that although a multiple of three interconnecting nozzles are shown, the apparatus may be changed as to have a larger or lesser number of nozzles so that in the event a pad having six sewn sections is to be filled, the apparatus can be assembled in multiples of six so that the six-section pad may be filled in one operation, and, as explained heretofore, the apparatus is capable of simultaneous filling of a section pad, the sections of which are not uniform as to width.

The apparatus functions as follows? A loading operator will insert the multiple sleeve unit in the three-section pad, load the said pad in the mold and roll the pad to a predetermined stop on the track, which stop serves to align the flared ends of the pipes with one set of the nozzles 4i, the set depending on Whether the mold is on the upper or lower track. The filling operator grasps the handle e9 of the sleeve unit and draws the sleeve out of the mold onto the filling nozzles 4l. The flow of lling material is then diverted to that set of nozzles and as the filling material is blasted through the sleeve to the rear end of the pad, the operator slowly withdraws the sleeve unit from the pad onto the nozzles, the speed of withdrawal being determined by the speed with which the filling material fills up the pad ahead of the sleeve unit, it being desirable to keep the sleeve approximately an inch away from the packed material ahead of it. As the endsof the nozzle unit approach the outer ends of the various seotions of the pad, the filling operator actuates the stem of the valve 43 and the filling material is diverted to the other nozzles where a pad has been positioned by a second filling operator. The said second filling operator then begins the filling of his padand in the interim of the said filling, the first named operator pulls the sleeve unit as to cause the said unit to clear the top of the mold, slips the unit off the nozzle onto the top of the mold, whereupon the said filling operator pushes the loaded pad down the track to an unloading operator and draws another mold containg an empty pad into position adjacent the nozzles. It may be clearly seen that the filling operation is continuous as when the operator of the top set of nozzles completes the filling of his pad, he diverts the iiow of material from his set of nozzles to the adjacent set of nozzles which the other filling operator has, in the meantime, connected with another pad to be filled. However, as the filling operation has been thoroughly described and explained in my heretofore mentioned co-pending application, it is not thought necessary to go into detail respecting it.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Filling apparatus for a plurality of pad sections comprising the following instrumentalities, arranged serially, a primary disintegrator for preparing and cleaning raw filling material, a receiver for the material from the primary disintegrator and having means for forming it into a sheet of uniform density and thickness, means for severing said sheet longitudinally into strips, in number and width corresponding to the number and capacity of the pad sections to be filled, a secondary disintegratcr, for comminuting said strips, maintaining them separately during treatment, and blower means receiving the separate masses of material from said secondary disintegrator and delivering the same separately to the said corresponding pad sections.

2. Filling apparatus for a plurality of pad sections ccmprising the following instrumentalities arranged serially, a primary disintegrator for preparing and cleaning raw filling material, a receiver for the material from the primary disintegrator and having means for forming it into a sheet of uniform density and thickness, cutting means adjustable widthwise of the sheet for severing it longitudinally into strips in number and width corresponding to the number and capacity of corresponding pad sections to be lled, a secondary disintegrator for comminuting said strips, maintaining them separately duringY treatment, andblower means receiving the separate masses of material from said secondary disintegrator and delivering the same separately to the corresponding pad sections.

3. Filling apparatus for a plurality of pad sections comprising the following instrumentalities arranged serially, a primary disintegrator for preparing and cleaning raw filling material, a receiver for the material from the primary disintegrator and having means for continuously forming it into a sheet of uniform density and thickness, cutting elements adjustable transversely of the sheet for continuously severing it longitudinally into strips in number and width corresponding to the number and capacity of lcorresponding pad sections to be filled, a secondary disintegrator for comminuting said strips, maintaining them separately during treatment, and blower means receiving the separate masses of material from said secondary disintegrator and delivering the same separately to the corresponding pad sections. Y

4. Filling apparatus'for a plurality of pad sections comprising the following instrumentalities, arranged serially, a primary disintegrator for preparing and cleaning raw filling material, Ya

Vreceiver for the material from the primary disintegrator and having means for forming it into y a sheet of uniform density and thickness, means for severing said sheet longitudinally into strips, in'number and Width correspondingto the number and capacity of the pad sections to be filled, a secondary disintegrator for comminuting said strips and maintaining them separately during treatment, blower means, a plurality of nozzles unitarily related and hingedly joined Vto said lower means, adapted to deliver the masses of material simultaneously'to a plurality of filling tubes placed in said pad sections and telescopically related to said lling tubes in the longitudinal withdrawal of said filling tubes from said pad sections. Y

5. In aY lling apparatus for pads having a plurality of sections, a receiver for lling material and having means for forming it into asheet of approximately uniform density and thickness, means for severing the sheet into strips, in number and width corresponding to the number of pad sections to be iilled, adisin'tegrator for comminuting said strips and maintaining them separate during treatment, and blower meansV receiving said separate masses of material from disintegrator and delivering the samerto the pad sections. f

6. In a filling apparatus for pads having a plurality of sections, a disintegratorfor material, a receivervfor the material from, the disintegrator and having means for formingY it into a sheet, means to divide the sheet into strips, a second disintegrator for comminuting said stripsr and maintaining the same separate during treatment, and means receiving the separate masses of material from said second disintegrator and delivering the same separately to the corresponding pad sections. Y

7. In a lling apparatus for pads having a plurality of sections, a disintegrator for the raw material, a receiver for the raw material from the disintegrator and having V'means Vfor forming it into a sheet, means for dividing said sheet into strips, aV second disintegrator for comminuting the previously formed strips, and blower means receiving the separate masses of material from said'second disintegrator and delivering the same to the corresponding pad sections.

8. In an apparatus for lling th-e sections oi pads, a disintegrator for the raw material, a receiver for the raw material from the disintegrator and having means for forming the material into asheet of uniform density and thickness, means for *die viding said sheet into strips, and blower means receiving the material in said strips and delivering the sameseparately to the pad sections to be filled.

y 9. VIn a filling apparatus for pads having a plurality of sections; a willow; Va receiver for the material from the willow and having means for forming the material into parts of approximately uniform density; a picker for ltreating said newly formed parts of material and having means for maintaining the same separate during treatment; and a plurality of separate blowers receiving the said separated partsrof material from the picker and having Vmeans for handling the same in prepations of the pad being filled.

10. In an apparatus for filling pads having a t plurality Yof sections; a primary disintegrator for material; a receiver for the material from said disintegrator Vand having means for forming it into a sheet of approximately uniformrthickness Y and density; cutters for dividing said sheet longitudinally into separate strips; a secondary disintegrator for treating the material in said strips and maintaining such material in separate parts during treatment; saidV secondary disintegrator being provided with separate outlets; separate blowers having communication'with said outlets; e and separate material conductors separately4 con-Y nected to said blowers for the movement of the separate masses of material to the sections of the pad to be filled.

11. Apparatus for simultaneously filling a plurality of pads arranged side by side, which pads are of substantially equal length but may be ofV different capacity, said apparatus comprising means for feeding .a mass of suitable filling material in a stream, driven apportioning means for dividing said stream into vseparate parts which correspond in'number and in relative volume to the number and relative capacities of thepads, A 

